The Indian team is getting ready to take on Afghanistan in a three-match T20I series, starting today (January 11) at 7 PM at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. There had been speculation in the press that the absence of Shreyas Iyer and wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan was due to disciplinary issues. To clear the air before the series begins, head coach Rahul Dravid stepped in to provide the real reason for their exclusion.
Men in Blue are gearing up for the three-match T20I series against Afghanistan. The first match will be played today (January 11) at 7 PM at Punjab Cricket Association Stadium. A few media reports suggested that Wicket-keeper batter Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer were excluded from the T20 squad due to disciplinary reasons. Ahead of the series opener, India’s head coach Rahul Dravid missed those media reports and gave clarity on the exclusion of those two players.
Dravid clarified that Ishan Kishan had requested some time off during the tour of South Africa to recover from mental fatigue, and the coaching staff granted that request. He explicitly denied any disciplinary conflict, stating that Ishan was unavailable because the team supported his need for a break. The former captain added that he expects Ishan to work his way back into the national side via domestic cricket once he is fit to play again.
When discussing Shreyas Iyer, Dravid insisted that his exclusion had nothing to do with conduct. Instead, it came down to the sheer number of batting options the team has right now. Since Iyer also missed out on the T20s in South Africa, Dravid admitted it's a shame because Iyer is a talented player, but fitting every top performer into a limited squad or the starting eleven is always a challenge.
Despite missing this series, Iyer is slated to represent Mumbai in their Ranji Trophy clash against Andhra starting Friday, January 12. Furthermore, the skilled right-hander remains a key part of India's plans for the upcoming five-Test series against England later this month.